CBC News Mohamed Fahmy says deportation still an option as retrial starts Monday The retrial of Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed is set to begin Monday in Cairo. Fahmy told CBC News he met with the Canadian ambassador and Egyptian officials, who gave him assurances that they'll push for this case to be dealt with quickly. He said to CBC's Derek Stoffel that he and his lawyers believe deportation to Canada is still an option. Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/mohamed-fahmy-says-deportation-still-an-option-as-retrial-starts-monday-1.2966706 Arutz Sheva Sisi Calls for 'Unified Arab Force' to Fight Terror Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Sunday that a "unified Arab force" was needed to fight the growing terrorist threats in the Middle East. "The need for a unified Arab force is growing and becoming more pressing every day," he was quoted by CNN as having said in a televised address, noting that Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have offered to send troops as Egypt steps up its efforts to battle the Islamic State (ISIS) in neighboring Libya. "The challenges in the region, and facing our countries, are huge challenges, and ... we can overcome those challenges once we are together," Sisi said. Read more: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/191694#.VOrK6PnoRZ8 ABC News Egypt's President Raises Cigarette Tax Egypt said Sunday it will raise the sales tax on both local and imported cigarettes as it confronts a major budget deficit. The decision announced by the presidency increases a flat tax by at least 7 cents for a pack of less expensive cigarettes. More expensive brands will see an increase of at least 20 cents. A similar move last July raised prices 25 to 40 cents per pack. One in four Egyptian adults smoke, according to a 2013 World Health Organization report. Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/egypts-president-raises-cigarette-tax-29142520 The New York Times Panel Disqualifies Egyptian Tycoon from Parliamentary Bid A steel tycoon who came to epitomize the cronyism and corruption in Egypt during the era of President Hosni Mubarak was disqualified on Sunday from running for Parliament, according to state news media reports. The tycoon, Ahmed Ezz, 56, had filed papers earlier this month announcing his intention to run again for Parliament, where he had been a leader. But an election committee disqualified him on the grounds that he had failed to submit financial statements by one of his wives, Shahinaz el-Naggar, a prominent businesswoman, according to a judicial official who spoke to Al-Ahram, the flagship state newspaper. The decision also saved the current government of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi from the embarrassing spectacle of seating a Parliament that included Mr. Ezz, whose wealth, influence and service to Mr. Mubarak's ruling party made him a central focus of protester anger during Egypt's 2011 uprising. Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/23/world/panel-disqualifies-egyptian-tycoon-from-parliamentary-bid.html?_r=0
